[Elecraft] K2 Op Gen Q's

[Tom Hammond NØSS]

Sean:

>I noticed a few characteristics of the K2 that I wonder if it is normal.
>First, the speaker audio sounds good but I find I am running the audio gain
>at 12 o'clock and on weak signals and/or using the passband audio filter I
>will turn the gain up all the way.  It seems like I need 2 watts of audio
>rather than just 1 watt as per spec.  There is no distortion of audio even
>at full volume that is great but it is at full volume.  Any comments?

Is this with the case buttoned up? Or with the top off? Putting the top on 
the case makes a significant difference in level!

>I changed R14 on the SSB board to 10K to get some more drive even with the
>MH2 mic from Heil. Also, I notice very little difference when I turn on the
>compressor (SSBC) even at max 4-1 listening on an external receiver.  The
>power output meter shows no average gain improvement as well (external watt
>meter).  Is this normal or should there be a very noticeable difference? For
>me it seems running SSBA at 2 with SSBC at 1-1 is the best mic/drive
>configuration with my voice and/or BFO configuration.

Are you using the LED power indicator on the K2, or an external averaging 
meter? The LED indicator shows PEAK, not average.

There may well be little difference in the PEAK reading, but there should 
be a noticeable increase in the AVERAGE. With the Heil mic, I'd expect you 
to be able to set SSb A to 1 (maybe 2, but probably NOT required), and to 
run SSb C at 2 to 3.

Tom Hammond   N0SS